Looking for Alaska has a very unique structure. It begins with a “before” section. This section is made up of a continuous count down to the most important and impactful event of the story- Alaska’s death. Following the “before” section is the “after” section. This section is doing the opposite of the previous “before” section; it’s continuously counting the days that have passed since Alaska’s death.

The theme that stands out the most to me is death. Although it’s a harsh conception, it’s an important one. The whole book revolves around Miles trying to figure out what happens when you die, Alaska’s mother’s death, and eventually Alaska’s death. John Green, the author, once stated, “…the story was about whether (and how) one can live a thoughtful, hopeful life in the face of unresolvable ambiguity.” In the book’s case the “unresolvable ambiguity” is caused by Alaska’s death.

Miles, Alaska, The Colonel, and Takumi are all individually complex. Miles wants to find the Great Perhaps
. He discovered the Great Perhaps while reading the biography of the poet François Rabelais. Rabelais’ last words were, “I go to seek a Great Perhaps”. Miles soon realizes that doesn’t want to wait until his dying days to seek the Great Perhaps. Alaska herself lacks complexity. Her complexity lies within her death. Did she commit suicide or was it just and accident? Takumi wants to be wanted. He was secretly in love with Alaska but she was in love with someone else. He also constantly felt left out by Miles and The Colonel. Lastly, The Colonel complex mainly because of his contradicting character traits. He smokes, drinks, and purposefully tries to get kicked out of Culver Creek basketball games and yet; he is one of the smartest kids in his whole school. He is a natural born leader with unquestionable authority. The question is: why waste his undeniable potential with illegal and immature activities?  

 

The book I decided to read is Looking for Alaska. Some of the main characters so far are Miles “Pudge” Halter, Alaska Young, Chip “Colonel” Martin, and Takumi. The beginning of the book takes place at Miles’ home in Florida. He then leaves his home town, and heads for Birmingham, Alabama where Culver Creek Preparatory School awaits him. The conflict in the book is person vs. self. Miles is trying to find himself. He thinks that Culver Creek can offer him more than his school in Florida. When he arrives at his new school, his roommate gives him the nickname Pudge. Miles went from having no friends and being antisocial to having friends and feeling as if he actually matter. His transition from Miles to Pudge was far from smooth. He started smoking, drinking, and defying authority. During this transition, he befriended Alaska, the Colonel, and Takumi. They all played a huge role in Miles finding his true self-especially Alaska. Alaska was a beautiful, intelligent, and self-destructive girl who Pudge fell in love with the moment he laid eyes on her.

Is Miles going to find himself? Is he going to change for the better? Is he going to end up with Alaska?